System and method for handling a kelly using a top drive

ABSTRACT

A system for performing a drilling operation includes a top drive, an adapter configured to be connected to the top drive, and a kelly configured to be connected to the adapter. The top drive is configured to lift the kelly, move the kelly laterally with respect to a well center, and position the kelly in a rotary device.

BACKGROUND

A top drive and a kelly are two devices that are used to rotate a drill string. A top drive differs from a kelly because it enables drilling to be done with two or three drill string segments coupled together, whereas a kelly operates with a single drill string segment. The top drive also enables a driller to quickly engage a pump or a rotary while tripping the drill string, which cannot be done easily with the kelly. Thus, most current drilling rigs include a top drive.

There are instances, however, when a kelly may outperform a top drive (e.g., when drilling through a shallow formation), but rigs that have a top drive generally do not also have a kelly because they are incompatible with one another. Accordingly, rigs with a top drive generally have the top drive removed to allow for the kelly, and vice versa, which expends time and resources. Therefore, it would be beneficial to have a rig with both a top drive and a kelly that are compatible with one another.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

A system for performing a drilling operation is disclosed. The system includes a top drive, an adapter configured to be connected to the top drive, and a kelly configured to be connected to the adapter. The top drive is configured to lift the kelly, move the kelly laterally with respect to a well center, and position the kelly in a rotary device.

In one embodiment, the adapter includes a body and a head that is connected to or integral with an upper portion of the body. The head includes a first recess that is configured to receive a first connector of a top drive. The adapter also includes a hook that is connected to or integral with a lower portion of the body. The hook is configured to receive a second connector of a kelly.

A method for performing a drilling operation is also disclosed. The method includes connecting an adapter to a top drive. The method also includes connecting the adapter to a kelly. The method also includes lifting the top drive, the adapter, and the kelly such that the kelly is lifted out of a rat hole. The method also includes lowering the top drive, the adapter, and the kelly such that the kelly is lowered into a rotary device. The method also includes rotating a first tubular member using the kelly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present teachings and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present teachings. In the figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an adapter for connecting a top drive to a kelly, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the adapter, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the adapter, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the adapter, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a method for performing a drilling operation, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9 illustrate perspective views of the kelly being lifted out of a rat hole, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the kelly aligned with a well after being lifted out of the rat hole, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates the kelly being lowered into the well, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and figures. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first object or step could be termed a second object or step, and, similarly, a second object or step could be termed a first object or step, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The first object or step, and the second object or step, are both, objects or steps, respectively, but they are not to be considered the same object or step.

The terminology used in the description herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used in this description and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Further, as used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context.

Attention is now directed to processing procedures, methods, techniques, and workflows that are in accordance with some embodiments. Some operations in the processing procedures, methods, techniques, and workflows disclosed herein may be combined and/or the order of some operations may be changed.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a perspective view and a front view of an adapter 100 for connecting a top drive to a kelly, according to an embodiment. The adapter 100 may include a body 110. The adapter 100 may also include a head 120 that is connected to or integral with a first (e.g., upper) end of the body 110. The head 120 may be positioned forward from the body 110, as shown in FIG. 1. In addition, the head 120 may be substantially perpendicular to the body 110 such that the head 120 and body 110 are substantially T-shaped, as shown in FIG. 2.

Opposing sides 121A, 121B of the head 120 may each define a recess 122A, 122B. As described in greater detail below, the recesses 122A, 122B may be configured to receive a connector from another tool (e.g., bails connected to the top drive), which may be used to support the weight of the adapter 100 and any tools (e.g., the kelly) supported by the adapter 100.

Each side 121A, 121B of the head 120 may also have a door 124A, 124B connected thereto that is configured to actuate between an open position and a closed position. When the doors 124A, 124B are in the open position, the doors 124A, 124B may not obstruct the recesses 122A, 122B, thereby allowing connectors of another tool (e.g., bails connected to the top drive) to be inserted into the recesses 122A, 122B. When the doors 124A, 124B are in the closed position (as shown), the doors 124A, 124B may obstruct the recesses 122A, 122B, thereby securing the connectors (e.g., bails connected to the top drive) therein.

As shown, a first (e.g., lower) end of each door 124A, 124B may be configured to be inserted into a bore 126A, 126B formed at least partially in the head 120. A second (e.g., upper) end of each door 124A, 124B may be configured to be connected to the head 120 via one or more fasteners (e.g., bolts or screws) 128A, 128B. In at least one embodiment, a portion 129A, 129B on each side 121A, 121B of the head 120 may be configured to rotate with respect to a remainder of the head 120 to actuate the doors 124A, 124B between their open and closed positions.

The adapter 100 may also include a hook 130 that is connected to or integral with a second (e.g., lower) end of the body 110. The hook 130 may be positioned forward from the body 110 and/or the head 120. The hook 130 may extend downward from the head 120 and curve back upwards, providing its curved, hook shape. In other embodiments, the hook 130 may be square or L-shaped, rather than curved. In addition, the hook 130 may be substantially parallel to the body 110 and substantially perpendicular to the head 120, as shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a side view and a top view of the adapter 100, respectively, according to an embodiment. As shown, a recess 132 may be defined at least partially by the body 110, the head 120, and the hook 130. The hook 130 may be configured to actuate between an open position and a closed position. More particularly, the hook 130 may be configured to pivot, with respect to the body 110, around a hinge 134, between the open position and the closed position. When the hook 130 is in the open position, a connector of a tool (e.g., a kelly) that the adapter 100 is configured to support may be introduced into the recess 132. When the hook 130 is in the closed position (as shown), the connector may be secured in the recess 132.

As shown, the hook 130 may include a first portion 136 and a second portion 138. The first portion 136 may be substantially perpendicular to the second portion 138. The first portion 136 may be curved and function as a seat to support the connector of the tool (e.g., a kelly) that the adapter 100 is configured to support. The second portion 138 may contact the head 120 when the hook 130 is in the closed position.

As described in greater detail below, having the adapter 100 attached to a top drive links, with a kelly suspended from the links, allows the use of the link hydraulic positioning to ease installation by facilitating parking and pick-up of the kelly. The kelly is parked in what is called a “rat hole” for tripping operations. This may be accomplished by crews either pushing the kelly or using a tugger and a fairlead to pull the kelly to the rat hole. With the top drive in place, and the kelly attached to the links, a user may rotate the kelly and extend it toward the rathole to make this operation safer and easier.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a method 500 for performing a drilling operation, according to an embodiment. Portions of the method 500 are illustrated in FIGS. 6-11, which are discussed below. The method 500 may include connecting an adapter 100 to a top drive, as at 502. This is shown in FIG. 6. The top drive 610 may include one or more connectors (e.g., lifting bails) 612A, 612B that extend downward therefrom. The connectors 612A, 612B may connect to the head 120 of the adapter 100. More particularly, doors 124A, 124B of the adapter 100 may be actuated into the open position. The connectors 612A, 612B may then be inserted into the recesses 122A, 122B. The doors 124A, 124B may then be actuated back into the closed position to secure the connectors 612A, 612B in the recesses 122A, 122B, thereby connecting the adapter 100 to the top drive 610.

The method 500 may also include lowering the top drive 610 and the adapter 100, as at 504. More particularly, the top drive 610 and the adapter 100 may be lowered until the adapter 100 is positioned proximate to a first (e.g., upper) end of the kelly 620. As shown, at least a portion of the kelly 620 may be positioned within a rat hole 630 formed in/through a platform 640 of a drilling rig 600. The rat hole 630 may be laterally-offset from a rotary device (e.g., a rotary table or spider) 650 positioned at a well center 652 of the platform 640. In at least one embodiment, the kelly 620 may be oriented at an angle with respect to a vertical axis (e.g., that extends through the well center 652). The angle may be from about 1° to about 30°. For example, the angle may be from about 1° to about 5°, about 5° to about 10°, about 10° to about 20°, or about 20° to about 30°. This angle may facilitate the insertion of the kelly 620 into the rat hole 630 and/or the removal of the kelly 620 from the rat hole 630.

The method 500 may also include connecting the adapter 100 to the kelly 620, as at 506. In at least one embodiment, the upper end of the kelly 620 may not be aligned with the well center 652 (e.g., it may be laterally-offset from the well center 652). Thus, an operator may manually move/swing the adapter 100 away from the well center 652 and toward the upper end of the kelly 620. Then, the hook 130 of the adapter 100 may be actuated into the open position. A connector 622 on an upper end of the kelly 620 may then be inserted into the recess 132 of the adapter 100. The hook 130 may then be actuated back into the closed position, to secure the connector 622 in the recess 132, thereby connecting the adapter 100 to the kelly 620. At this point, at least a portion of the top drive 610 may be aligned with the well center 652, but the adapter 100 and/or the kelly 620 may not be aligned with the well center 652 (e.g., they may be laterally-offset from the well center 652).

In at least one embodiment, an order of 502, 504, and/or 506 may be different. For example, the adapter 100 may be connected to the kelly 620. Then, the top drive 610 may be lowered. Then, the adapter 100 may be connected to the top drive 610. In another embodiment, the top drive 610 may be lowered, and then the adapter 100 may be connected to the top drive 610 and the kelly 620.

The method 500 may also include lifting the top drive 610, the adapter 100, and the kelly 620, as at 508. This is shown in FIGS. 7-9. When the lower end of the kelly 620 is lifted out of the rat hole 630, the lower end of the kelly 620 may swing into alignment with the top drive 610, the adapter 100, and/or the upper end of the kelly 620. Thus, the lower end of the kelly 620 may be aligned with and positioned directly above the well center 652.

The method 500 may also include lowering the top drive 610, the adapter 100, and the kelly 620, as at 510. This may cause the lower end of the kelly 620 to be introduced into/through the rotary device 650. This is shown in FIG. 10. The kelly 620 may be lowered until a shoulder 624 of the kelly 620 is seated in/on the rotary device 650. This is shown in FIG. 11.

The method 500 may also include disconnecting the kelly 620 from the adapter 100, as at 512. The method 500 may also include lifting the top drive 610 and the adapter 100, as at 514. The kelly 620 may remain supported by the rotary device 650 while the top drive 610 and adapter 100 are lifted, thereby creating a vertical gap between the kelly 620 and the adapter 100. In at least one embodiment, steps 512 and/or 514 may be omitted.

The method 500 may also include rotating a first tubular member (e.g., a segment of drill pipe) using the kelly 620, as at 516. More particularly, the rotary device 650 may rotate the kelly 620. The kelly 620 may be connected to the first tubular member. Thus, the first tubular member may rotate together with the kelly 620. As will be appreciated, the first tubular member may be part of a drill string that may be lowered into a wellbore as part of a drilling operation. In at least one embodiment, the kelly 620 may be used to rotate the drill string during a first portion of the drilling operation (e.g., when drilling through a relatively hard portion of a subterranean formation). The relatively hard portion may be or include a shallow portion of the subterranean formation.

After the kelly 620 has assisted with the first portion of the drilling operation, the method 500 may also include placing the kelly 620 back into the rat hole 630, as at 518. This may be the reverse operation of one or more of the steps described above and is not described again here in detail. For example, this may include lowering the top drive 610 and the adapter 100; connecting the adapter 100 to the kelly 620; lifting the top drive 610, the adapter 100, and the kelly 620; aligning the lower end of the kelly 620 with the rat hole 630; and lowering the top drive 610, the adapter 100, and the kelly 620 until the shoulder 624 of the kelly 620 is seated in/on an edge of the platform 640 defining the rat hole 630. At this point, the top drive 610 may be aligned with the well center 652. In at least one embodiment, no portion of the kelly 620 may be aligned with the well center 652. As a result, the kelly 620 may be stored out of the way of future drilling operations (e.g., involving the top drive 610), as discussed below.

The method 500 may also include disconnecting the adapter 100 from the kelly 620, as at 520. The method 500 may also include disconnecting the adapter 100 from the top drive 610, as at 522. The method 500 may also include removing the rotary device 650 from the well center 652, as at 524. The method 500 may also include lowering the top drive 610, as at 526.

The method 500 may also include rotating a second tubular member (e.g., a segment of drill pipe) using the top drive 610, as at 528. As will be appreciated, the first and second tubular members are part of the drill string that may be lowered into a wellbore as part of the drilling operation. In at least one embodiment, the top drive 610 may be used to rotate the drill string during a second portion of the drilling operation (e.g., when drilling through a softer portion of the subterranean formation). The relatively soft portion may be or include a deeper portion of the subterranean formation (e.g., below the shallow portion).

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. Moreover, the order in which the elements of the methods are illustrated and described may be re-arranged, and/or two or more elements may occur simultaneously. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for performing a drilling operation, comprising: a top drive; an adapter configured to be connected to the top drive; and a kelly configured to be connected to the adapter, such that the top drive is configured to lift the kelly, move the kelly laterally with respect to a well center, and position the kelly in a rotary device.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises: a body; and a head that is connected to or integral with the body, wherein the head is substantially perpendicular to the body, and wherein the head includes a first recess that is configured to receive a first connector of the top drive.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the head comprises a door that is configured to actuate between an open position and a closed position, wherein the first connector is configured to be introduced into the first recess when the door is in the open position, and wherein the first connector is secured within the first recess when the door is in the closed position.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein a first end of the door is positioned at least partially within a bore formed in the head when the door is in the closed position, and wherein a second end of the door is connected to the head via a fastener when the door is in the closed position.
 5. The system of claim 2, wherein the adapter further comprises a hook that is connected to or integral with the body, wherein the hook is substantially parallel to the body, and wherein the hook at least partially defines a second recess that is configured to receive a second connector of the kelly.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the hook is configured to actuate between an open position and a closed position, wherein the second connector is configured to be introduced into the second recess when the hook is in the open position, and wherein the second connector is secured within the second recess when the hook is in the closed position.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the hook comprises: a first portion that is configured to support the second connector; and a second portion that is configured to contact the head when the hook is in the closed position.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lifting bail connected to the top drive, wherein the lifting bail is configured to be connected to the adapter to provide a connection between the top drive and the adapter.
 9. An adapter, comprising: a body; a head that is connected to or integral with an upper portion of the body, wherein the head includes a first recess that is configured to receive a first connector of a top drive; and a hook that is connected to or integral with a lower portion of the body, wherein the hook is configured to receive a second connector of a kelly.
 10. The adapter of claim 9, wherein the head is substantially perpendicular to the body, and wherein the hook is substantially parallel to the body.
 11. The adapter of claim 9, wherein the head comprises a door that is configured to actuate between an open position and a closed position, wherein the first connector is configured to be introduced into the first recess when the door is in the open position, wherein the first connector is secured within the first recess when the door is in the closed position, wherein a first end of the door is positioned at least partially within a bore formed in the head when the door is in the closed position, and wherein a second end of the door is connected to the head via a fastener when the door is in the closed position.
 12. The adapter of claim 9, wherein the hook is configured to actuate between an open position and a closed position, wherein the second connector is configured to be introduced into the second recess when the hook is in the open position, wherein the second connector is secured within the second recess when the hook is in the closed position, and wherein the hook comprises: a first portion that is configured to support the second connector; and a second portion that is configured to contact the head when the hook is in the closed position.
 13. A method for performing a drilling operation, comprising: connecting an adapter to a top drive; connecting the adapter to a kelly; lifting the top drive, the adapter, and the kelly such that the kelly is lifted out of a rat hole; lowering the top drive, the adapter, and the kelly such that the kelly is lowered into a rotary device; and rotating a first tubular member using the kelly.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein no portion of the kelly is aligned with a well center when the kelly is positioned within the rat hole, the method further comprising moving a lower end of the kelly laterally with respect to the well center, to bring the kelly into alignment with the well center.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the kelly is oriented at an angle with respect to a vertical axis that extends through the well center when the kelly is positioned within the rat hole, and wherein the angle is from about 1° to about 30°.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein connecting the adapter to the kelly comprises moving the adapter away from the well center and toward an upper end of the kelly.
 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising: disconnecting the adapter from the kelly after the kelly is lowered into the rotary device; and lifting the top drive and the adapter after the adapter is disconnected from the kelly.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein rotating the first tubular member using the kelly comprises rotating the kelly using the rotary device, wherein the first tubular member is connected to the kelly and rotates together with the kelly.
 19. The method of claim 13, further comprising: placing the kelly back into the rat hole after the kelly rotates the first tubular member; and disconnecting the adapter from the kelly, wherein no portion of the kelly is aligned with a well center when the kelly is placed back into the rat hole.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: disconnecting the adapter from the top drive; removing the rotary device; lowering the top drive; and rotating a second tubular member using the top drive. 